The Melon Seller 1810

Editor: So, this is Bartolomeo Pinelli’s "The Melon Seller," an undated etching at the Harvard Art Museums. It feels like a snapshot of everyday life, but I wonder about the social context. What can you tell me about its public role? Curator: Pinelli often depicted scenes of Roman life. This image, with its prominent display of melons, speaks to the city’s commerce and food culture. Consider how this print might have circulated: Were such scenes meant for local consumption, or did they serve to romanticize Roman life for outsiders? Editor: That's a great question! It makes me think about who got to see this image and what they might have thought about it. Curator: Exactly! The politics of imagery are always at play. Thinking about the intended audience really shapes our understanding.